Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UNCW ECU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill JMU Tennessee Elon UofSC Clemson| Appalachian State University | Anderson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ASU | AU | ||
| Location | Boone, NC | Anderson, SC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 21,253 | 4,325 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #597 | #759 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | appstate.edu | andersonuniversity.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ASU | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,242 | $32,710 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,238 | $32,710 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,258 | $12,290 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,712 | $22,222 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,677 | $25,586 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 47% | 99% |
Admission |
ASU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,001 | 4,732 | ||
| Admitted | 21,275 | 2,499 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% | 52.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.9% | 34% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.96 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1280 | 1090/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ASU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ASU | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,600 | $37,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $26,862 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $277 |
Diversity |
ASU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 85% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
ASU | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 31% | ||
Campus |
ASU | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 4,325 students)
ASU vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ASU or AU?
- Anderson University is 671.1% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 54% higher at AU than Appalachian State University ($32,710.00 vs. $21,238.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than AU ($14,712 vs. $22,222)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 0.3% lower than costs at Anderson University ($12,258 vs. $12,290)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than Appalachian State University (99% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 233.3% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($25,586 vs. $7,677)
ASU vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ASU or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or ASU .
- The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 79 points higher than at AU (1078)
- Incoming ASU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at AU (24)
- Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at AU (3.72)
- ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than AU (52.8%)
ASU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ASU or AU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AU and ASU.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Anderson University (65% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Appalachian State University earn on average $4,100 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($41,600 vs. $37,500)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $6,362 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,862)
- ASU graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($211 vs. $277)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/